Smart Zones® - Your UAE Entry Partner
Business • Residency • Banking • Wealth • Investment
Smart Zones® - Your UAE Entry Partner
Business • Residency • Banking • Wealth • Investment
Financial Consulting Company Setup, Dubai, UAE
Financial consulting spans everything from budgeting advice to regulated investment services, and each licensing path is very different. Here's how to choose the right one.
Free, no-obligation consultation on activity, jurisdiction and cost.
Starting a financial consulting company in Dubai needs a commercial licence covering management or financial consultancy activity, from either the DED for mainland or a free zone authority. Non-regulated consulting, budgeting, tax structuring, virtual CFO services, moves faster and typically costs about AED 12,000 to AED 30,000 for the licence. Regulated activities like investment advice need separate financial-services authorization from a regulator such as the DFSA, a longer and more involved process.
Why It Matters
Financial consulting spans a wide range, from general business advisory to regulated activities like investment advice, and each maps to a different licensing path. Non-regulated consulting, budgeting, tax structuring, virtual CFO services, moves faster and costs less than anything requiring direct financial-services authorization. Confirm which side of that line your services fall on before choosing a jurisdiction.
The Case For Dubai
Dubai's mix of multinational corporations, SMEs and family businesses gives financial consultants a wide range of engagement opportunities.
Structure your practice around advisory, tax, virtual CFO or a combination, without needing to become a fully regulated financial institution.
No local UAE sponsor or partner required for consultancy activities.
Keep more of what your business earns, with no personal income tax in the UAE.
100% repatriation of capital and profits, with no currency restrictions.
Before You Register
Confirm which side of the line your services fall on before choosing a jurisdiction.
Needed only if you plan to represent clients before the Federal Tax Authority.
Free zone vs mainland changes cost and local-market access.
Confirm your rate and threshold status with a tax advisor.
Getting Started
Advisory, tax, virtual CFO, or a combination.
Check whether any of your services need financial-services authorization.
Mainland or free zone, based on your client base.
Submit your preferred company name for approval.
Passport copies, application form and activity selection.
Settle registration and first-year package costs.
Issued once approval and payment are complete.
Set up banking to start invoicing clients.
Budgeting
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Non-regulated consultancy licence (from) | AED 12,000-30,000* |
| Regulated financial-services authorization | Separate process, considerably higher cost* |
| FTA tax agency accreditation (if applicable) | Separate accreditation process |
| Corporate tax | 0% on qualifying free zone income; 9% standard mainland rate above threshold* |
| VAT | 5% standard rate, once registration threshold is crossed |
| Nationality requirement | Open to any nationality |
*Indicative only, based on general UAE consultancy licensing norms at the time of writing. Confirm current fees with your chosen jurisdiction before budgeting a total.
Our Story
Smart Zones® UAE has helped more than 45,000 clients worldwide set up, relocate and protect their interests across the UAE, backed by 13+ years of experience in company formation, residency, banking and family trust formation.
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The trust formation process was seamless from start to finish. Highly recommend Smart Zones UAE.
Professional, transparent, and fast. Exactly what I needed for my family's estate planning.
Clear guidance throughout and no hidden costs. Would use them again.
Responsive team and a genuinely smooth setup process from our first call to licence in hand.
Handled everything remotely for us with zero surprises on cost. Would use them again without hesitation.
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Smart Zones® - Your UAE Entry Partner
Business • Residency • Banking • Wealth • Investment